I'm 32 years old - should I still be playing Nintendo games? I've loved their in-house titles for years. Where other companies are criticised for rehashing franchises, I can't wait to play the next Zelda or (proper) Mario game. But a gaudy advert section for their "All Star 05" tour in this week's MVC trade mag - primary colours, tie-ins with a milkshake company and comics - really summed up who Nintendo make their games for. It's time for me - and any other 20/30 something Nintendo fan - to finally admit it. Nintendo games ARE actually aimed at children.
Maybe I'd never really thought about it before. Maybe it didn't matter? But when you see a game that is top of your anticipation list - Zelda: Twilight Princess - cross promoted with The Beano it does finally hit home. Don't get me wrong, I fully intend to spend this December in Hyrule. But will anyone older than 20, who isn't already a fan of the series, want to do the same? Will a GTA-loving teenager want to admit to playing with an elf in a pointy hat? I doubt it.
There's no doubt that Nintendo still make good and, crucially, different games. There's still a buzz surrounding the bigger titles. The promotional tour this summer is obviously tied in with the school holidays and will allow kids to try out upcoming Nintendo titles like Zelda: Twilight Princess and Nintendogs. Lucky them. These titles look fantastic, and I can't wait. But I've - belatedly - realised that I'm not the target audience anymore. I've accepted that. I'm happy. I'll still be playing. Will you?
